About Us

About District 99

Community High School District 99's two award-winning high schools, Downers Grove North High School and Downers Grove South High School serve a population of more than 65,000 residents and an enrollment of over 4,500 students from Downers Grove and Woodridge, as well as areas of Bolingbrook, Darien, Lisle, Oak Brook and Westmont. Our Transition 99 Center serves an additional 60+ students per year.

• Our Mission: Every day, the District 99 community works to provide a foundation for students to confidently pursue a future of their choosing.
• Our Vision: District 99 will graduate students equipped to realize their potential and positively impact their community and the larger world.
• Our Values: We care. We trust. We belong. We prepare. We evolve.

District 99 employs 700+ full-time staff members who work out of four office locations.

Strategic Plan

The Board of Education approved District 99’s strategic plan in May 2022. The plan was created through a collaborative process that included the input of students, staff, parents, school board members, business leaders and community members. 

Our plan, Future Focused, Future Ready, reflects our commitment to ensure that all students graduate equipped to realize their potential and positively impact their community and the larger world.

Equity and Inclusion 

District 99 cares about, accepts and respects all people regardless of race, color, national origin, sex or disability and seeks to understand their unique ideas and perspectives so that they can be successful. 

(If you need immediate assistance or have an urgent concern related to harassment or discrimination, please contact one of our Complaint Managers or make an anonymous complaint.)

District 99 embraces diversity and seeks to foster a positive and encouraging environment for our school community. One of our core values is “We Belong.” We believe everyone has a place and a voice in District 99. By valuing and actively seeking to understand the perspectives and unique backgrounds of those around us, we are able to shape and improve our practice based on what we have learned. Ultimately, we want to build strong relationships with students, rooted in understanding their unique backgrounds, so that they feel and know that they are respected and accepted, which helps to create optimal learning environments.

We have equity and inclusion coordinators at both North High and South High to help us instill a sense of belonging and advance a more inclusive culture. These team members work closely with all staff to welcome, support, and advocate for students and families from all cultural backgrounds, helping them navigate the school system. They are also equity leaders at their schools, supporting staff to promote a more equitable, culturally responsive learning environment.

Anyone in our community who would like support related to equity and inclusion, such as referring a family with a marginalized identity for support or seeking advice on how to navigate situations through an equity lens, is welcome to connect with an Equity and Inclusion Coordinator:

• Downers Grove North Equity and Inclusion Coordinators:
  • Samiyah Nageeb (snageeb@csd99.org) and Kat Pantke (kpantke@csd99.org/630-795-8064)
• Downers Grove South Equity and Inclusion Coordinators:
  • Nikki Golden (egolden@csd99.org/630-795-8500) and Georgina Cervantes (gcervantes@csd99.org/630-795-8940)

In addition to the Coordinators, District 99 plans and facilitates professional learning opportunities and applies equity work to student learning. Over the years, the district has provided in-depth, district-wide professional learning opportunities. In addition, over 100 employees have volunteered to participate in SEED, a peer-led professional learning program that promotes change through self-reflection.

Focusing on the Future

Student participation is essential for the equity and inclusion work at District 99 to be successful. Several student groups at each school are already focused on promoting equity and supporting marginalized students, and the district will continue to support these efforts.

History of Community High School District 99

Lincoln School (now the Lincoln Center on Maple Avenue) opened in 1879 and served both elementary and high school students until Downers Grove High School opened on Main Street in 1928.

• 1877 - High school students attend Lincoln School, a four-room building that also educates elementary students.
• 1893 - High school students move to Washington School, built in 1891, before moving back to Lincoln in 1913 after an addition was built.
• 1923 - Residents vote on February 17, 1923, to form District 99 as a separate
• high school district.
• 1927 - Voters approve the construction of a high school.
• 1928 - Downers Grove High School (now North High) opens, a three-story building with 20 classrooms and an auditorium/gymnasium, at Main Street and Prince Street. 
• 1962 - Enrollment grows to 2,700, creating the need to rent space and buy portable classrooms. Voters approve the purchase of a 45-acre site at 63rd Street and Dunham for a second high school.
• 1964 - South High opens its doors to 700 freshmen and sophomores with 32 classrooms, a library, gym and basement track.
• 1966 - For the first time, South High serves all grades, serving 1,700 students and anticipating up to 2,500.
• 1998 - Voters overwhelmingly approve a $49.5 million expansion and renovation plan.
• March 2018 - Voters overwhelmingly approve addressing $136.6 million in capital facility improvements.
• August 2021 - The Master Facility Plan renovations are completed and dedication celebrations are held at DGN and DGS.
• February 17, 2023 - District 99 Celebrates its 100-Year Anniversary